Play Four in a Row online (also called 4 in a row), the classic drop-the-disc game many people know as Connect 4 or Connect Four. It’s free, there’s nothing to download, and you can start a game in one click.
New here? Read how to play in two minutes, or jump straight to Connect 4 strategy tips that win games.
Put the game on your desktop › Your own icon: play any time in one click. No download or sign-up.
Three ways to play
- Against the computer. Pick Easy, Medium or Hard. Easy is relaxed and friendly for learning. Hard plays near-perfect moves and is a real test. Play vs the Computer ›
- Online against real players. Press Play Online and we’ll match you with someone from anywhere in the world. You can also send a friend a private link to play together. Play Online › · Play with a Friend ›
- Two players on one screen. Sit side by side and take turns on the same phone, tablet or computer. 2 Player Mode ›
How to play in 30 seconds
The board has 7 columns and 6 rows. Take turns dropping a disc into any column. It falls to the lowest empty space. Be the first to line up four of your discs in a row, across, up and down, or diagonally. If all 42 spaces fill up with no line of four, the game is a draw. Full rules ›
Want to win more?
Four in a Row looks simple, but it has deep strategy. The middle column is the most powerful place to play. Good players also build two threats at once, so their opponent can only block one. Our guides take you from beginner to expert.
Stuck on a position?
Try our free Four in a Row solver. It shows the best move in any position and tells you whether each move wins, loses or draws with perfect play, and in how many moves. Curious how it works? Read Is Four in a Row Solved? and How the AI Works.
Four in a Row or Connect 4?
They’re the same classic game. Lining up four in a row isn’t owned by anyone, so the game is sold and played under lots of names. Connect 4 is Hasbro’s brand name for its version, and it’s the best-known one. Whichever name you grew up with, the rules here are the ones you know: 7 columns, 6 rows, and first to four wins. Read more in Other Names for the Game.
New: 3D Four in a Row
Play Four in a Row in real 3D: a 7 × 7 board of columns, 6 high. Turn the board any way you like, pick a column on the drop grid and make four in a row across, up or corner to corner. Play the computer or a friend.
Play 3D Four in a Row · How to play 3D Four in a Row
New: 3D cube puzzle
Play a 3×3 cube puzzle in real 3D, solve any cube in about 20 moves, or learn the beginner’s method step by step. Free, with nothing to download.
Play the 3D cube · Cube solver · How to solve it · Cube trainer
Popular pages
- Play: vs the Computer · Online Multiplayer · With Friends · 2 Player · Unblocked
- Learn: Connect 4 Rules · What Is Four in a Row? · Board and Pieces · 69 Ways to Win
- Win: How to Win · Opening Moves · Tricks and Traps · Beat the Computer · Odd and Even Threats
- Explore: Who Invented It? · Fun Facts · Play 3D Four in a Row · Maths Four in a Row · Games Like It
Explore the site
| Section | What you’ll find |
|---|---|
| Play | Every way to play: computer, online, friends, one screen |
| How to Play | Rules, the board and pieces, and every way to win |
| Strategy | Winning tips from beginner to expert |
| Solver and AI | The free solver and how computer players think |
| Variants | 3D, pop-out, five in a row and maths versions |
| History | Who invented the game, fun facts and other names |
Four in a Row at a glance
- Free, no download, no account. Works in the browser on phones, tablets and computers.
- Four ways to play: against the computer (Easy, Medium or Hard), online against real players, with a friend by private link, or two players on one screen.
- Get better: a free Four in a Row solver that shows the best move, plus rules, strategy and opening guides.
- 3D cube puzzle: play a 3×3 cube in 3D, with a cube solver, a step-by-step trainer and a timer.
- A site by Classfern, a small UK business that also runs Unscramble Words 4U and DeviceCheck. Not affiliated with Hasbro.
Frequently asked questions
Is Four in a Row free?
Yes. Every game mode is free, with no download and no account needed.
Is this the same as Connect 4?
It’s the same classic four-in-a-row game, with the same rules. Connect 4 is a brand name owned by Hasbro; this site is independent and not linked to Hasbro.
Can I play Connect Four online with other people?
Yes. Press Play Online to be matched with a real player, or send a friend a private link. Both are free.
Does it work on phones?
Yes. The game works in any modern browser on phones, tablets and computers.
Who goes first?
In online games the first player is chosen at random. Against the computer you can choose.